Back to the Library(this page written by Mark Shirley)
The presence of these scrolls in the Library mark the success of a quest undertaken by the Senior Magi to uncover the enigmatic secret of Lichdom. The intention is to perform the Rites on an ancient Mercurian Magus, Marlowe. Marlowe is trapped inside a remote cave that magically preserves his life force, and the only conceivable way he can be freed is by turning him into a lich. This is because the longevity effect of the cave is far too powerful to be reproduced in a potion or charm, given Marlowe's extreme age (he fought in the Schism war!). Marlowe has been tutoring the Senior Magi, and so they are indebted to him. However finding these scrolls is the easy part of the Path to Lichdom, now they have to collect a vast array of magical ingredients.
See also Specifications for Ritual Foci by Ricard of Verdi.
A missive to all who would reach Life Eternal.
I, Sabian, in my fourth decade as a lich, do write this.
The path is not easy, but ye know that already, else ye would not be reading this. It is not something to be undertaken lightly either, for much must be forsaken to reach the exalted state. Possessions, studies, comrades, familiars, the Code of Hermes - all must be as dust before he that seeks Lichdom before he will achieve his goal.
And now a warning. Seven Rites make up the Ascent, and each is filled with minute detail. The slightest part must not be scrimped upon. It is also warned that no more than three seasons may pass between the completion of one Rite and the assumption of the next, else all is lost. Good preparation is therefore quintessential to the Path.
To further dissuade the casual seeker, I have divided the complete knowledge that I have penned. This document is the first of seven - turn back now if the discovery of this work pushed the limits of thy capacity for research. Supplementary knowledge must also be sought - before ye proceed further, find thyself a bookmerchant who has access to bodies of Lore as divers as Kabbalic Wisdom, Zoroastrian Teaching, and Slavic Rote.
So it begins...
Details for the next Rite have been left hidden in the Covenant of Urania, in the Tribunal of Thebes.
The design is of the utmost import, and it must be of personal significance. My suggested design is thus: Four Circular Quadrains, and five Pentameters between. (Your attention is drawn to the accompanying diagram)
Quadrains to the North and South must take the form of the Verditius Runes of Corpus and Vim respectively. The Eastern quadrain should be inscribed with three lines from the Kitab al-Azif, fourth chapter and verse, pertaining to the task at hand. These three lines are to be written in three different scripts. The last quadrain should take the form of Umbofrices Sigil, although instead of the mark of thy parens place the Alpha-and-Omega - these are thy master now, and in place of thine Arts, inscribe the symbol of Longevity.
The Umbilical pentameter should bear the Seal of Solomon, Sign of True Magicks. The other pentameters should bear spell-marks as ye sees fit.
The Rite of the Sigil begins as the forging starts, and ends as the brand, still blazing from the salamanders fire, is applied to the left side of thy bare chest, above the heart.
Seek ye in the Library of Circulus Ruber for the Rite of Gathering.
Every Invested item created by Ye must be located and brought together. All materials created via Magic that have not been consumed or destroyed, along with any created entities such as homunculi and automata must also be collected into one place. Using appropriate magics, all existant Arcane Connections must be summoned to the Pile. Finally, the collection of the Gathered must be surmounted by thy familiar, should thee have one. A spell must then be cast that simultaneously negates magicks, destroys matter and withers life. The resulting dust should be placed within a Rosewood box, for the Rite of Blood.
Note that only the Athame is immune to this Rite. Thy books that ye have penned even are subject to this Rite, and form part of the Gathered.
The Rite of Cleansing is detailed within a Libram in the Covenant of Bellaquin, Provencal Tribunal.
All contact with those that serve a Power or draw power from a Realm must be denied. Ward spells that keep out numerous beasts and minions of the Realms must be cast daily to prevent interference. Whilst these Wards essentially prevent physical contact or close proximity, the preferred distance of isolation is four stadia. This limit may be breached by the unmundane no more than seven times before the completion of the Path.
It is therefore recommended that all materials required for the next three Rites are gathered together at this ritual site. I spoke earlier of a time limit within which the Rites must be accomplished. There is a further stricture - The Seven Rites must also be separated by a minimum of seven days.
The Rite commences when the Magus establishes the Wards at his ritual spot. All the time that Ye are not occupied with the further Rites must be spent contemplating and cleansing thy soul. The Kabbalic rite of Holding the Ten Breathes was utilized by me, although any similar sacred contemplation should suffice.
Search through the Wood-lore of Donnure in the Transylvanian Tribunal for the ante-penultimate Rite.
By means of four spells, prepared in advance, all ties are denied. Each must have been created in an area rich in the power in opposition to that which the spell is designed to denounce (Faerie and Reason can be said to be most immicable to each other), and must be of at least fifth magnitude.
In addition, with the completion of this Rite; all pacts, whether Arcane or Mundane, between friends or between enemies, are reneged and declared Void. The presumptive lich must have no ties linking him to any power bar himself when he attempts to breach the Gate between life and death.
The Penultimate Rite is written on the last Page of the grimoire of the Magus Raginius, Late of Sansaron Covenant in the Tribunal of Rome.
Forming the base is 20 ounces of thy personal potion of Longevity that has sustained thine life ere now. This must be placed within a bowl of finest beaten gold, the specifications of which will be found within Ricard of Verdi's most erudite tome. The bowl should be suspended over a fire of century old holly wood and two hundred year old yew wood. These woods should be in equal proportions, the first taken from a tree near a birth site, the second cut from a grave-tree. The two woods must be seasoned for seventy-seven days.
Once the liquid is simmering gently, the following ingredients must be carefully blended in, one grain at a time, in order, until all are absorbed. At no time must the fluid within the bowl boil. The ingredients are:
The ending commences in the finality of the foundation.
Wise Magi, especially those with weak constitutions, may wish to take precautions to bolster their bodies for the potential shock.
One sincerely hopes that ye achieve that which thee have so diligently sought for. May it be more than ye expect it to be, but less than I have experienced.
SABIAN, mensis Ianuarius, 1189th Year of the Age of Aries.